LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the Department of Water Resources and requires the department to implement various water conservation and flood control programs and projects in the state.

This bill would establish the Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program in the department to, upon appropriation of special fund moneys, research climate forecasting and the causes and
impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers,
to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state, and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers.

Digest Key

Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
YES
Local Program:
NO

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Article 8 (commencing with Section 347) is added to Chapter 2.5 of Division 1 of the Water Code, to read:

347.

(a) The Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program is hereby established in the Department of Water Resources.

(b) Upon appropriation of special fund moneys, including, but not limited to, private funds, for these purposes, the department shall conduct research relating to
climate forecasting and
the causes and impacts that climate change has on atmospheric rivers, and shall take all actions within its existing authority to operate reservoirs in a manner that improves flood protection in the state and to reoperate flood control and water storage facilities to capture water generated by atmospheric rivers, thereby increasing water supply,
hydropower availability, and the reliability of water resources in the state.